Edwina slouched deeper into the chair. “You’re forgetting your agreement with Miss Henrietta, one that has you on a probationary period, so to speak. During this period, you’re barely allowed to take a walk down the sidewalk, let alone enjoy any society events.”
Mrs. Davenport sat back in the chair again. “They believe I could still be tempted by items of a shiny nature.”
“And it’s best not to take any chances with that type of temptation,” Gertrude said, nodding at the table setting that was now perfect. Walking to join the other ladies, she pulled up a spare chair next to Mrs. Davenport and sat down. “The good news is that you and I were planning on an uneventful summer before you met Edwina, something I know you weren’t looking forward to. However, with us moving into Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel’s old house, our summer is now anything but uneventful, so there’s no need for you to bemoan the loss of a season in Newport. And because there’s still so much organizing to do in this old house before classes resume in a few weeks, you’ll be distracted from all thoughts of shiny objects for the foreseeable future.”
Mrs. Davenport’s brows drew together. “I’m not certain organizing a house filled with the treasures Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel collected over the years is really the best way to dissuade me from old habits.”
“You know you’ll never take anything from them, and you know it’s a reach to use that as an excuse to get you and Edwina off to Newport.”
“It was worth a try,” Mrs. Davenport mumbled. “Newport is so very lovely in the summer.”
Edwina released a sigh. “I’m sure Newport is oh-so-lovely, but even if you weren’t on a probationary period, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be possible for me to join you at your cottage.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides squealing on me about Agent McParland, Harrison also made a point of telling our mother about my society aspirations. Pair that with the fact that she caught Gertrude with items you, Mrs. Davenport, admitted to stuffing in your reticule, and I’m afraid, even after I explained the perfectly logical reason behind your peculiar habit, she’s not exactly keen to see me deepen my association with either you or Gertrude.”
Gertrude sat forward. “Does she know you’ve come to call on us today?”
“She knows I’ve come to call at Miss Snook’s School for the Education of the Feminine Mind, a school my mother finds quite acceptable given her progressive attitude.” Edwina grinned. “She might not be aware of the fact, though, that you and Mrs. Davenport have taken up residence within the walls of this particular school.”
“And you’re not concerned your mother might find out that less-than-secret information?” Gertrude pressed.
“I’m hoping by the time she does, she’ll have come to her senses. She’s not a very trusting woman, quick to judge if you must know. Although, after poor Margaret got taken in by two fortune-hunters, as did my mother, who thought those fortune-hunters were aboveboard, one can’t blame her these days for being overly cautious about anyone unfamiliar trying to get close to our family.” Edwina blew out a breath. “She’s also currently in a bit of a dismal mood because she’s missing my father.”
“Then why didn’t she go off to assist your father instead of Harrison?” Mrs. Davenport asked. “Am I mistaken in believing she’s an integral part of Sinclair Shipping?”
“She and Father have always been equal partners in the business, although Harrison has been assuming more of a leading role these days. Mother and Father intend to eventually hand everything over to Harrison, me, and my sisters.” She released a dramatic sigh. “I might have mentioned to her that I have no interest in continuing on with the family business, which explains why she didn’t travel to Boston but sent Harrison instead.”
“So Harrison didn’t sail out of the city because he’s avoiding all of us?” Mrs. Davenport pressed.
“Oh, I’m sure that was one of the reasons he agreed to go to Boston to assist my father, although I’m also certain he didn’t bother to explain that to my mother. No, he, being annoying, made certain to point out the errors of my recent ways, thus encouraging my mother to stay behind and keep watch over me.” Edwina turned to Gertrude. “I feel I should explain that Harrison takes to the sea when he’s troubled, and I do believe you’ll find it comforting to learn he’s definitely troubled about you.”
Gertrude’s spirits began to improve just the slightest little bit. “Why would he be troubled about me? He made a most emphatic argument about us being strictly friends, an argument I couldn’t help but notice he truly seemed to believe.”
“He doesn’t believe that. He’s simply confused, a condition Harrison suffers frequently in this messy business called life. However, you mark my words, by the time he returns to the city, which will hopefully be today, he’ll have sorted through that confusion and come up with a plan to make amends.” Edwina’s eyes twinkled. “That’s when it will get very interesting around here.”
Gertrude’s brows drew together. “I do believe you’re in for a disappointment, Edwina, because Harrison has been rather firm that he doesn’t have time for a romantic relationship.”
“That’s because he’s never met a lady he wants to become romantically involved with—until you.”
Not caring to dwell on that since she wasn’t fond of her heart aching all the time, and she certainly didn’t want to experience another disappointment like she had at Grace Church, Gertrude got up from the chair and casually strolled back to the table, pulling out her ruler in the pretense of rechecking her perfectly set table.
“I do wonder how Harrison will go about the tricky business of making amends for that fiasco he caused,” Mrs. Davenport said.
Gertrude moved her ruler to the next place setting, edging a crystal water goblet a fraction to the right. “There’s no reason for Harrison to make amends. He was simply being truthful, and while I may have allowed my affections for him to travel in a direction they never should have traveled, one can’t force a gentleman to return affections he doesn’t care to return.”
“She’s very stubborn, isn’t she?” Edwina asked Mrs. Davenport as she abandoned her chair and moved to join Gertrude. “However, because you’re my friend, and I’d like for you to remain my friend, I’ll stop harping on the subject of my brother.” She leaned forward and began counting the forks that were now perfectly aligned. “I do hope this isn’t a typical table setting, because, on my word, the forks alone are overwhelming.”
Relieved to have a change of topics, Gertrude smiled and gestured to the table. “I’ve set this table for an eight-course meal because I want the students to become comfortable in any social setting. One never knows when you might be asked to attend a dinner at Delmonico’s, but you should know that many society matrons serve a twelve-course meal. And, unfortunately, I do believe the number of courses will steadily increase, what with so many competitions sprouting up amongst the society set—each society matron trying to outdo the last society event attended.”
“But ... how can a person be expected to eat so much?” Edwina asked.
“You merelytastethe courses, dear,” Mrs. Davenport said, walking up to join them. “Society is all about appearances. The more courses you serve, the more gold and crystal you have on your table, the more exclusive the wine, well, the more you’ve proven you’ve arrived. That is what society believes to be all important these days.”
Edwina glanced down the table again, then shook her head. “Perhaps I’m not meant for society after all. I don’t know if I’d be able to witness such pretentious attitudes and still be able to hold my tongue.” She smiled. “Having admitted that, it’s probably fortunate I’vealmostdecided to pursue a completely different avenue these days for my life.”
“You’re giving up on the idea of becoming a society lady?” Mrs. Davenport asked.
Edwina nodded. “I believe I’m meant to live a more adventurous life, Mrs. Davenport. And I believe I might just find that life by learning skills that will allow me to embrace a position investigating crimes.” Her eyes sparkled. “Samuel, I mean Agent McParland, told me there are a few ladies employed by the Pinkerton Agency. I’d like to become one of those ladies, especially because, after living with Harrison all these years, I’ve decided that men do not think like we do, which means a feminine mind might very well prove useful when dealing with cases involving lady confidence artists.”
“You didn’t come up with that idea because of my past misdeeds, did you, dear?” Mrs. Davenport asked.
